Washington State Wine Commission opens research grant portal

The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) is accepting viticulture and enology research proposals for the coming year. The Washington Wine Research Grant Portal will accept new and continuing research grant applications for Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027). All new proposals must submit a pre-proposal application.

The grant program is designed to foster research collaboration with Washington State University (WSU) and other wine regions to leverage research funding opportunities. 

The program offers one-year grants targeted at practical, rapid application winery and vineyard trials or proof-of-concept research ideas and intermediate grants. Awards from the commission’s program are available to WSU scientists, Washington community colleges as well as out-of-state university researchers and private contractors.

Launched six years ago, the research grant portal manages applications to the WSWC’s grant program and the statewide Grape and Wine Research Program administered by WSU. The two competitive research grant programs offer a variety of grants, from one-year demonstration projects to up to four years of study.

The deadline for preproposal applications is Nov. 7. Preproposals deemed by the industry review committee to have merit and relevance to the Washington wine industry will be invited to submit full proposals. Principal investigators of full research proposals will be asked to give a short presentation during the annual research review scheduled for Feb. 24-25 in Prosser, Washington.

Visit the Washington Wine Commission’s grant webpage to learn more about the grant programs, request for application and download proposal and reporting templates. The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington. Guided by an appointed board, WSWC provides a marketing platform to promote the Washington wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. A state agency, WSWC is funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales.